On May 14, 2024, a forum titled “Bulgaria/EU–Taiwan Relations: Promoting Democratic Resilience” was held in Sofia. The event was organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria with the assistance of the Taipei Representative Office in Greece. It brought together diplomats, experts, and representatives from the academic community with the aim of deepening dialogue on democratic values and exploring opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria, the European Union, and Taiwan.
The president of the Atlantic Club, Dr. Solomon Passy, opened the forum with a message that democracy must not be taken for granted but defended daily, especially in the context of the global confrontation between democratic and authoritarian regimes. He emphasized that despite the absence of official diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Taiwan, the country has much to offer on the international stage as a partner sharing common values with the EU and NATO.
A special guest at the event was the representative of Taipei in Greece, who stated that Taiwan is committed to building and defending a stable democracy resilient to external pressure. He called for dialogue and cooperation with states and organizations that respect freedom, the rule of law, and human rights.
Among the speakers was Dick Roche, former Minister for European Affairs of Ireland, who shared lessons Europe should learn from the war in Ukraine. He called for building stronger democratic societies through active participation, interinstitutional dialogue, and respect for differences. According to him, Europe and its partners like Taiwan must work together against destabilizing factors and threats to the democratic order.
The forum also addressed Bulgaria’s complex diplomatic position, which officially does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, adhering to the “One China” policy. Nevertheless, the event created space for informal dialogue and exchange of ideas between representatives of the two peoples, with a focus on opportunities for cooperation in areas such as innovation, education, technology, and security.
The forum in Sofia sent a strong message that democratic resilience is not only a regional but a global priority requiring united efforts. Although outside the framework of official diplomacy, meetings like this contribute to building bridges between democracies worldwide and offer hope for a safer and freer future.